Means for humidifying cigars



l 1941' j J. P. MOHEN 2,255,491

MEANS FOR HUMIDIFYING CIGARS Filed Nov. 8, 1939 'II III? ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE 2,255,491 MEANS FOR,HUMmIFYING CIGARS John P. Mohen, Clayton, Mo. Application November 8,1939, Serial No. 303,357

3 Claims. {01. 299-20) This invention relates primarily to means forhumidifying cigars and tobacco as displayed in glass cases in stores,although the same might be applied with equal efiicacy to the properhumidification of other goods or articles, wherever found necessary.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a humidor unit,including a container for holding water, for positioning in the casewith the cigars, the container being constructed in whole or part of aspecially proposed porous composition, and with walls of a correlatedthickness, and being properly dimensioned relative to the porosity andthickness of the walls, so that when water is placed thereinand the openend inverted upon a tray, plate, cap or other closure, the weight of thewater will not be sufiicient to push out under or through the closure,but the water will fall to the bottom of the container and be thereretained by the closure under atmospheric pressure without, the partialvacuum formed in the upper end of the container assisting in theretention of the water, whereby the water will gradually penetrate orsoak through the porous container walls and form a moisture on theexterior surfaces that will be taken up by the surrounding atmospherefor humidifying the cigars or the like in the case.

Another object is to provide a humidor unit including a container forthe purposes referred Still another object is to form a container of.

the kind described, having a convenient form of removable closure forits open and inverted end, with means for securing it in place and forhandling the assembled unit.

With the stated objects in view, together with such other objects andadvantages as may appear from the following specification, preferredembodiments of the container, as made from the specified porousmaterial, are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a humidifier unit made in accordance withmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail, showing the construction ofthe auxiliary filler cap or plug.

Figure 4 is a detail of the bearing button for the upper, closed end ofthe container.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the closure tray or plate for closing theopen end of the inverted container.

The invention comprises a container made of any suitably porousmaterial, of suitable size for the purpose in hand and of any desirableform or shape. The preferred form shown in the drawing at MS in the formof an elongated cylinder, closed at one end 6 and open at the oppositeend I. A small recess or depression 8 is formed in the center of theclosed end, and a button 9 of some non-corrosive material such asaluminum is pressed into the bottom of this recess, for a purpose laterexplained.

While it is contemplated that the container will be normally suppliedwith water through the open end 1, an auxiliary screw filler port illwith cap Il may be provided in the closed end B, if desired.

A closure tray, plate or cap I2 is provided for the open end 1 of thecontainer, same being greater in width or diameter than that of thecontainer. As here shown this cap is in the form of a shallow tray withraised sides I211 for catching any accidental excess flow of water fromthe container 5. As shown in the drawing, the sides l2a arediametrically slotted at l2b. A looped handle or bail I3 is formed of aflat strip of metal or other suitable material, the free ends thereofbeing formed into hooks l3a adapted to releasably engage the slots l2bof the sides of the closure cap l2. The bight 3b of the bail isdimensioned to pass freely over the closed end of the container, and ispierced medially by a threaded bore l3c through which a thumb screw I4is passed, down upon the button 9, and whereby the bail is releasablylocked to its upright position, as shown inFigures 1 and 2. To removethe bail and the closure cap I2, the screw I 4 is unturned and the bailI3 is swung aside from the container, thus releasingthe cap or tray l2.If desired a thin, smooth cover plate It may be placed over the open endof the container, within the closure tray I2.

The container 5 may be supplied with water either by removing theclosure cap [2 and pouring in the water at that open end and theninverting the container upon the cap [2 and locking same in place byturning up the bail I 3 and turning down the screw M; or if preferredthe container may be filled through the auxiliary port It) at thenormally closed end 6, the plug or cap ll being of course removed forthe purpose. With this arrangement, the container may remain seated onits closure cap at the lower end, and fresh water supplied through theauxiliary port.

If preferred and in lieu of the free closure plate, cap or tray [2, ascrew or threaded form of cap (not shown) may be employed, as asafeguard against accidental spilling of Water through over-turning thecontainer.

A preferred method of making the porous container, and a preferredformula for the composition of the materials thereof is as follows:

Take 65 lbs. of clay containing rock fibers, 25

This material is then molded by conventional methods to form thecontainers, and the latter are finally heated in ovens to about 1958degrees Fahrenheit, which process results in burning out the sawdust,and leaving a porous or semi-porous vessel through and up which watermay seep and Work by capillary action, for the uses and purposes asabove described.

From the foregoing description it is thought the use and operation ofthe device, as well as its mode of construction, will be fullyunderstood The container is partially or entirely filled with Water inmanner explained and then is inverted upon the closure tray or cap andlocked thereto, and then is placed within the case with the cigars ortobacco, the resultant humidifying action being as above described.

While I have here shown and described a certain embodiment of thecontainer unit and its and the steps of the method itself, may be variedwithin the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An elongate porous vessel closed at one end and open at the otherend, whereby the vessel may be supplied with water, and inverted upon atray with the open end turned downward upon the tray, the juncture ofthe vessel and tray being substantially air-tight, and the porosity ofthe vessel being such that the water is held in suspension by the vacuumformed in the upturned end of the vessel by the weight of the Water, thelatter escaping only gradually through the porous sides of the vessel.

2. In a structure according to claim 1, a looped handle adapted at itsends for releasable connection with the tray, and having a bight portionfor passing over the top of the vessel, and a thumb-screw passed downthrough the bight of the handle and adapted to bear upon the upper endof the vessel, for locking the elements together With the handle inupright position.

3. In a structure according to claim 1, a bearing button seatedcentrally in the upturned closed end of the said vessel, 2. loopedhandle connected at its ends with the tray and having a bight forpassing over the top of the vessel, and a thumb screw passed centrallythrough the bight of the handle and adapted to bear upon the saidbutton, for locking the elements together with the handle in uprightposition.

JOHN P MOHEN.

